Bat-wielding robber puts man in hospital

A 44-year-old man is in intensive care after he was struck several times with a bat and robbed at a Medford motel Wednesday night in an incident that could be tied to drugs, police reported.

By RYAN PFEIL

A 44-year-old man is in intensive care after he was struck several times with a bat and robbed at a Medford motel Wednesday night in an incident that could be tied to drugs, police reported.

Police are searching for a male suspect described as wearing dark clothing and a black, hooded sweatshirt, with a red bandana covering his face.

The incident took place at about 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Valli Hai Motel, 1034 Court St., where Medford police found the victim unconscious and suffering from several head wounds.

Witnesses told police the man was in a motel room with a 25-year-old woman when the suspect showed up unannounced and hit him several times with a bat.

"He forced his way in and proceeded to immediately assault the victim with a bat, striking him several times in the head and upper torso, immediately knocking him unconscious," Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said.

The suspect took things belonging to the man and woman, then fled. The woman was not hurt. The man suffered multiple contusions, but no skull fractures, police said. He is conscious in the Providence Medford Medical Center Intensive Care Unit and is expected to survive.

Police would not disclose names or the property taken, but they suspect the incident was drug-related.

"That's the most likely scenario," Budreau said. "We are still keeping an open mind."

Officials declined to disclose why the man and woman were at the motel, but investigators believe the attack was likely targeted and not random.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident should call the Medford Police Criminal Investigations Division at 541-774-2230.